Chess Puzzle #FVr87 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1686 · Advanced · crushing, defensive move, endgame, master, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen h6; rook d4; bishop g7; pawns a2/d3/f3/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook f8; bishop f5; pawns a7/d6/f6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc7+ — queen d8→c7, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rc4 — rook d4→c4. Opponent replies Qe7 (queen c7→e7).
  3. Best move: Bxf8 — bishop g7→f8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, master, short. The key move is Rc4.

Position data

FEN: 3q1rk1/p4pBp/3p1ppQ/5b2/3R2P1/3P1P2/P6P/2K5 b - - 0 21

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.